Mahlathini, the Queens and the Makgona Tsohle Band had become famous as ind… Read Full Bio ↴Mahlathini, the Queens and the Makgona Tsohle Band had become famous as individual artists, but had frequently recorded together since 1964. It was only in 1986, when the demand for South African music arose through Paul Simon's Graceland album, that Gallo Record Company (the three artists' label) paired them together permanently.

Mahlathini was known as the "Lion of Soweto" (his voice was a low, "gravel-like" groan) and was well known throughout South Africa and neighboring countries such as Zimbabwe and Botswana during his career. He began singing in the 1950s, often working in conjunction with top producer Rupert Bopape at EMI South Africa, and often performing with the girl group the Dark City Sisters. When Bopape moved to Gallo Record Company in 1964 to start up the new African subsidiary, Mavuthela Music, he brought Mahlathini with him. The bass vocalist's career then took off. He was backed by Bopape's newly-formed Makgona Tsohle Band (soon to become the hardest-working mbaqanga session team in the country, led by the country's electric guitar pioneer Marks Mankwane as well as saxophone star West Nkosi) and often recorded with Bopape's newly-formed (and highly-successful) Mahotella Queens.

Mahotella Queens was initially a group of five female vocalists established at the Mavuthela division in 1964 by Bopape, who introduced Hilda Tloubatla to sing the main lead vocals. The Queens began recording hit singles and albums with their backing, the Makgona Tsohle Band, and were often fronted by Mahlathini. In 1971, Mahlathini signed with rival company EMI, and the original Queens all ended up joining rival girl groups. Bopape formed a new Mahotella Queens line-up, who most notably recorded the 1977 album Izibani Zomgqashiyo with Robert "Mbazo" Mkhize (in the place of Mahlathini). In 1983, the original five Queens (Hilda Tloubatla, Nobesuthu Mbadu, Mildred Mangxola, Juliet Mazamisa and Ethel Mngomezulu) reunited with Mahlathini and the Makgona Tsohle Band with the comeback release Amaqhawe Omgqashiyo (Heroes of Mgqashiyo Music). After one more hiatus, three of the Queens (Hilda Tloubatla, Nobesuthu Mbadu and Mildred Mangxola) regrouped full-time in 1986.

Homeless
Mahlathini & The Mahotella Queens Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Emaweni webaba (Silala emaweni)
...weni webaba (Silala emaweni)
...weni webaba (Silala emaweni)
Webaba silala emaweni
Webaba silala emaweni

Emaweni webaba (Silala emaweni)
...weni webaba (Silala emaweni)

...weni webaba (Silala emaweni)
Webaba silala emaweni
Webaba silala emaweni

Homeless
Homeless
Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
Homeless
Homeless
Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake

And we are (Homeless)
Homeless (Homeless) Bamba
Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
And we are (Homeless)
Homeless (Homeless) Bamba
Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake

Nhliziyo yami (Nhliziyo yami)
Nhliziyo yami (Nhliziyo yami)
Nhliziyo yami (Nhliziyo yami)
Nhliziyo yami

Nhliziyo yami (Nhliziyo yami)
Nhliziyo yami (Nhliziyo yami)
Nhliziyo yami (Nhliziyo yami)
Angibulala amakhaza

Nhliziyo yami (Nhliziyo yami)
Nhliziyo yami (Nhliziyo yami)
Nhliziyo yami (Nhliziyo yami)
Angibulala amakhaza

Nhliziyo yami (Nhliziyo yami)
Nhliziyo yami (Nhliziyo yami)
Nhliziyo yami (Nhliziyo yami)
Nhliziyo yami

Thululululululululululu (Thululu)
(Thululululu)
(Thululululu lululululu)

Thululululululululululu (Thululu)
(Thululululu)
(Thululululu lululululu)

Strong wind strong wind (Strong wind destroy our homes)
Strong wind (Many dead, tonight it could be you)
Strong wind strong wind (Strong wind destroy our homes)
Strong wind (Many dead, tonight it could be you)

We are homeless (And we are homeless)
We are homeless we are homeless (Homeless) Bamba
Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake

Somebody sing (Nqa qa qa qa)
Somebody sing (Hello, hello, hello)
Somebody sing (Nqa qa qa qa)
Somebody cry (Why, why, why)

Somebody sing (Nqa qa qa qa)
Somebody sing (Hello, hello, hello)
Somebody sing (Nqa qa qa qa)
Somebody cry (Why, why, why)

Somebody sing (Nqa qa qa qa)
Yithi omanqoba Nqa qa qa qa
Yithi omanqoba
Esanqoba lonke ilizwe

Nqa qa qa qa yithi omanqoba
Nqa qa qa qa yithi omanqoba
Esayibamba phakathi eJapane

Yithi omanqoba
Esayibamba phakathi eMelika
Yithi omanqoba
Esayibamba phakathi eCananda

Nqa qa qa qa
Somebody sing (Nqa qa qa qa)
Somebody sing (Hello, hello, hello)
Somebody sing (Nqa qa qa qa)
Somebody cry (Why, why, why)

Somebody sing (Nqa qa qa qa)
Somebody sing (Hello, hello, hello)
Somebody sing (Nqa qa qa qa)
Somebody cry (Why, why, why)

Khulumani
(Khulumani khulumani sizwe)

Singenze njani
Bayajabul'abasithandayo

Overall Meaning

The song "Homeless" by Mahlathini & The Mahotella Queens is a powerful commentary on homelessness and displacement caused by natural disasters such as strong winds. The opening lyrics are in Zulu and translate to "Father's home in the valley" repeated several times. The repetition of these lines sets the tone for the rest of the song, which describes the experience of being homeless.

The chorus repeats the word "homeless" several times and describes the image of the moon shining on a midnight lake, highlighting the loneliness and lack of security that comes with being homeless. The verses alternate between Zulu and English and describe the emotions felt by those who are homeless. One verse says "My heart, my heart, my heart, I'm not killing the weeds," suggesting that the singer's heart is filled with pain and sadness instead of the usual emotions of anger and frustration.

The song also touches on the idea that displacement and homelessness can happen to anyone, and that it is important to come together as a community to support those who are affected. The final verse includes the Zulu phrase "Khulumani," which means "Let's speak" and invites people to come together and discuss how to help those who are homeless.

Line by Line Meaning

Emaweni webaba (Silala emaweni)
Father, we sleep on the hill (We sleep on the hill)

...weni webaba (Silala emaweni)
We sleep on the hill (We sleep on the hill)

Webaba silala emaweni
Father, we sleep on the hill

Homeless
Without a home

Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
The moon casts its light on a peaceful lake

Homeless
Without a home

Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
The moon casts its light on a peaceful lake

And we are (Homeless)
We are without a home

Homeless (Homeless) Bamba
Without a home, catch it

Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
The moon casts its light on a peaceful lake

And we are (Homeless)
We are without a home

Homeless (Homeless) Bamba
Without a home, catch it

Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
The moon casts its light on a peaceful lake

Nhliziyo yami (Nhliziyo yami)
My heart (My heart)

Nhliziyo yami
My heart

Nhliziyo yami (Nhliziyo yami)
My heart (My heart)

Angibulala amakhaza
I won't kill the lice

Nhliziyo yami (Nhliziyo yami)
My heart (My heart)

Angibulala amakhaza
I won't kill the lice

Nhliziyo yami (Nhliziyo yami)
My heart (My heart)

Nhliziyo yami
My heart

Thululululululululululu (Thululu)
Whistling sound (Whistle)

(Thululululu)
(Whistle)

(Thululululu lululululu)
(Whistling sound)

Thululululululululululu (Thululu)
Whistling sound (Whistle)

(Thululululu)
(Whistle)

(Thululululu lululululu)
(Whistling sound)

Strong wind strong wind (Strong wind destroy our homes)
A powerful wind (The wind destroys our homes)

Strong wind (Many dead, tonight it could be you)
The wind is strong (Many will die, tonight it could be you)

Strong wind strong wind (Strong wind destroy our homes)
A powerful wind (The wind destroys our homes)

Strong wind (Many dead, tonight it could be you)
The wind is strong (Many will die, tonight it could be you)

We are homeless (And we are homeless)
We don't have a place to stay (And we don't have a home)

We are homeless we are homeless (Homeless) Bamba
We don't have a place to stay (Without a home, catch it)

Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
The moon casts its light on a peaceful lake

Somebody sing (Nqa qa qa qa)
Somebody sings (Nqa qa qa qa)

Somebody sing (Hello, hello, hello)
Somebody sings (Hello, hello, hello)

Somebody sing (Nqa qa qa qa)
Somebody sings (Nqa qa qa qa)

Somebody cry (Why, why, why)
Somebody cries (Why, why, why)

Somebody sing (Nqa qa qa qa)
Somebody sings (Nqa qa qa qa)

Somebody sing (Hello, hello, hello)
Somebody sings (Hello, hello, hello)

Somebody sing (Nqa qa qa qa)
Somebody sings (Nqa qa qa qa)

Somebody cry (Why, why, why)
Somebody cries (Why, why, why)

Nqa qa qa qa yithi omanqoba
We say victory (Nqa qa qa qa)

Esayibamba phakathi eJapane
We fight in Japan

Yithi omanqoba
We say victory

Esayibamba phakathi eMelika
We fight in America

Yithi omanqoba
We say victory

Esayibamba phakathi eCananda
We fight in Canada

Nqa qa qa qa
We say victory (Nqa qa qa qa)

Somebody sing (Nqa qa qa qa)
Somebody sings (Nqa qa qa qa)

Somebody sing (Hello, hello, hello)
Somebody sings (Hello, hello, hello)

Somebody sing (Nqa qa qa qa)
Somebody sings (Nqa qa qa qa)

Somebody cry (Why, why, why)
Somebody cries (Why, why, why)

Somebody sing (Nqa qa qa qa)
Somebody sings (Nqa qa qa qa)

Somebody sing (Hello, hello, hello)
Somebody sings (Hello, hello, hello)

Somebody sing (Nqa qa qa qa)
Somebody sings (Nqa qa qa qa)

Somebody cry (Why, why, why)
Somebody cries (Why, why, why)

Khulumani
Speak up

(Khulumani khulumani sizwe)
(Speak up, speak up nation)

Singenze njani
What are we going to do

Bayajabul'abasithandayo
They rejoice, those who love us

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOSEPH SHABALALA, PAUL SIMON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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